Timofey Mozgov said he doesn’t allow his friends to talk about trade speculation about him. (David Zalubowski, The Associated Press)

Timofey Mozgov has one rule for his buddies who talk about trade speculation that involves him: Take it somewhere else.

The Nuggets’ center the subject of trade chatter for much of this season. The most recent has concerned him possibly going to Cleveland since Cavaliers coach David Blatt once was his coach on the Russian National Team and the Cavs recently lost big man Anderson Varejao for the season because of a torn Achilles.

Christmas Day is the NBA. The NFL has Thanksgiving, the NBA has Christmas.

And this year’s five-game slate hardly disappointed. First The John Wall-led Wizards opened by thrashing the Knicks and further reminding New York fans that their team is not good — not even a little.

Then Russell Westbrook put on a show in the Thunder’s win over the Spurs in San Antonio.

Then a vintage Dwyane Wade dropped 31 to spoil LeBron James’ Miami homecoming — which included video tributes for James and then almost everyone else on the floor.

Then came the Kobe Bryant-less Lakers vs. Bulls, which was of interest in large part because Derrick Rose is playing scary good again, but also because Nick Young continues to provide ridiculous comments.

And then, to finish it all off, the Clippers hosted the Warriors, a West Coast battle featuring two of (or maybe just the) league’s best point guards, Chris Paul and Stephen Curry.

If you missed any of the games: A) What were you thinking?, B) Relax, we’re here for you. Here were some of the high points (and low points) from each game.Read more…

LeBron James spoke to reporters after the Cavs’ morning shootaround in Denver and addressed (again) the struggles of his team, the reported/but refuted feud between him and point guard Kyrie Irving and what he sees in the Nuggets. The good part though is at the one-minute mark: Read more…

Rocky hands LeBron James a replica Carmelo Anthony jersey during the Nuggets’ game against the Timberwolves in 2004. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

On Friday, LeBron James will face the Nuggets for the 21st time in his career — 11th in Denver — and he comes equipped with a new pair of sidekicks and the same set of critics. The Cavaliers, with big man Kevin Love and point guard Kyrie Irving, have struggled to find their rhythm four games in, and the King has already taken heat for being too passive in the Cavs’ early going.

But the Nuggets, reeling from their second consecutive loss to the Kings, know a thing or two about early season struggles, and for two teams that many expected to be on different ends of the spectrum — and who may still end up that way — Friday’s matchup at Pepsi Center will undoubtedly be interesting.

In light of their upcoming game, we decided to dig through The Post’s archives and found this gem of LeBron in Denver on April 24, 2004.Read more…

“(Mozgov) played with (Cavaliers coach) David Blatt on the Russian national team,” Windhorst said. “A starter-quality guy who can defend a little bit, makes about $3 million. Then these non-guaranteed contracts — (F) Erik Murphy, (G) John Lucas, and (F Malcolm) Thomas — that’s who they got these guys to trade for, but Denver’s not giving (Mozgov) up. That’s the guy (the Cavs) want to get their hands on. That would be a nice addition, but they haven’t been able to do that deal so far.

“You’re not going to hold a parade if you got him like you are with Love,” Windhorst added, “but that’s the guy they’re looking at. They haven’t been able to do the deal yet. They’ve been trying to trade for him for the last six to eight weeks and they just haven’t been able to get it done.”Read more…

Chauncey Billups is reportedly interested in playing for the Cavaliers. (Kathryn Scott Osler, The Denver Post)

Retirement does not appear to be on Chauncey Billups’ mind.

The Colorado legend and former Denver Nugget reportedly worked out for the Cavaliers on Wednesday and is “interested in playing there,” but no offer was made.

The website WaitingForNextYear.com first reported that Billups spent Tuesday in Cleveland with assistant coach Tyronn Lue and had dinner with the Cavs’ new head coach, David Blatt, and general manager David Griffin.

Yahoo Sports’ Marc J. Spears later Tweeted:

Free agent guard Chauncey Billups also worked out for the Cavaliers today & is interested in playing there,a source said. No offer was made.

“The deal is done but not done,” Windhorst said. “The teams have agreed, but they can’t say they have agreed and they can’t agree because we’re in this weird moratorium period, because you can’t Andrew Wiggins until the 23rd of this month.

“So, between now and then — which is what? 19 days? — could something happen? Could a team come in with a trade that maybe Minnesota doesn’t see? Yes, it could happen. Therefore, it is not done. But, essentially before the papers have been signed, there is a handshake agreement: Kevin Love to the Cavs, Andrew Wiggins to the Timberwolves, and I believe Thaddeus Young will end up in Minnesota, either as part of a separate deal or as part of a three-way deal. Possibly Anthony Bennett, who’s on the Cavs right now, could get re-routed to Philadelphia in part of a deal for Thaddeus Young, there will be draft picks involved.

“But essentially what you need to know if you’re an NBA fan: Kevin Love’s going to be on the Cavs barring anything unforeseen, and Andrew Wiggins, the No. 1 overall pick, is going to be in Minnesota.” Read more…

Chris Dempsey arrived at The Denver Post in Dec. 2003 after seven years at the Boulder Daily Camera, where he primarily covered the University of Colorado football and men's basketball teams. A University of Colorado-Boulder alumnus, Dempsey covers the Nuggets and also chips in on college sports.

Nicki Jhabvala is the Sports Digital News Editor for The Denver Post. Before arriving in Denver, she spent five years at Sports Illustrated working primarily as its online NBA editor, and she was most recently the overnight home page editor at the New York Times.